Do We Need Cephalic Spread of Spinal Anaesthesia for Caesarean Section? A Different Approach to CSE-EVE for Reducing Hypotension

Abstract

Spinal anaesthesia is the most preferred anaesthetic technique for elective as well as for unplanned Caesarean sections. Spinal-induced hypotension remains the most important side effect with a reported incidence between 20% and 100%. It can cause -maternal discomfort (nausea and vomiting) and impaired utero-placental perfusion. The present study was designed to examine the influence of epidural volume effect on the spread and duration of low-dose hyperbaric levobupivacaine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of epidural restriction (injection of saline) on the distribution of anaesthesia as well as the incidence of hypotension during the spinal anaesthesia.After the approval by the ethics committee, 60 full-term parturient women (ASA I or II) with uncomplicated pregnancies were prospectively randomized into 2 groups: the SA group (single shot spinal anaesthesia) included 37 patients and the CSE-EVR group (combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia) included 39 patients in whom we induced the restriction of the spinal space by epidural volume compression. The blocks were performed at the L2/3 or L3/4 level in a sitting position, in the CSE-EVR group using the needle-through-needle technique. The initial dose for CSE-EVR was exactly half of the SA dose (0.5 mg per 10 cm height of hyperbaric levobupivacaine and 20 microg fentanyl). After spinal injection, an epidural catheter was located in the CSE-EVR and a volume of 20 mL saline solution injected. After injection, the women were turned supine with a left uterine displacement. Surgery was allowed when a sensory block at or above the T8 dermatome was established. We evaluated the height of the block by the pinprick method and the motor block by the Bromage scale, 10 min after spinal injection, during the operation time and at the end of surgery. Haemodynamic monitoring (NIBP, HR) was assessed every 2 min until the childbirth, then every 5 min during operative time. Anaesthetic efficacy was evaluated for breakthrough pain by visual analogue pain score (VAPS), Apgar score at birth, umbilical artery pH, and epinephrine consumption.The level of anaesthesia 10 min after the induction was significantly higher in the spinal group (SA) than in the CSE-EVR T5 (T4-T7) vs. T7 (T6-T8) group.The SA group experienced complete motor block during the time of anaesthesia, while the CSE-EVR group demonstrated significantly faster motor recovery. The incidence of hypotension and ephedrine supplementation was significantly lower in the CSE-EVR group (19 vs. 35 patients) than in the SA group (p<0.05).The neonatal outcome and umbilical artery pH were higher in the CSE-EVR group. Both groups were comparable in demographic data, VAS scores, preloading and infusion volume, atropine or ephedrine use, and adverse effects such as nausea or skin pruritus.We demonstrated a possible restriction of the spread of spinal anaesthesia by using epidural volume restriction with 20 mL saline as part of a combined spinal epidural technique. The study shows that CSE with EVR using only 50% of t...

Effects of epidural volume extension by saline injection on the efficacy and safety of intrathecal local anaesthetics: systematic review with meta‐analysis, meta‐regression and trial sequential analysis

“…The volume of saline injected for epidural volume extension was 18–20 ml in the study by Fabris et al , 10 ml in seven studies , 5 ml in four studies and 6 ml in one study . The studies by Doganci et al , as well as the trial by Mohamed , studied several saline volumes for epidural volume extension.…”

“…). Fifteen studies reporting on 1177 patients were considered eligible for quantitative analysis. The risk of bias assessment of the included studies is given in Table .…”

“…Nine trials included parturients undergoing caesarean section , and six trials reported on other surgical procedures . In 12 out of 15 studies , the same anaesthetic mixture was used in the treatment and control arms.…”

“…In 12 out of 15 studies , the same anaesthetic mixture was used in the treatment and control arms. In three studies , all on caesarean section, a lower spinal anaesthetic dose plus epidural volume extension was applied in one group (epidural volume extension group) compared with a higher spinal anaesthetic dose without epidural volume extension (control group).…”

“…Spinal anaesthesia was performed in the sitting position in eight studies and in the lateral position in seven studies . Plain bupivacaine was used in four studies and hyperbaric bupivacaine was used in eight studies . Kucukguclu et al studied the effect of epidural volume extension in two groups of patients, one group receiving isobaric bupivacaine and the other group receiving hyperbaric bupivacaine.…”